dissociation

Definition of dissociation

1: the act or process of dissociating: the state of being dissociated: asa: the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler constituents; especially: one that results from the action of energy (as heat) on a gas or of a solvent on a dissolved substanceb: the separation of whole segments of the personality (as in multiple personality disorder) or of discrete mental processes (as in the schizophrenias) from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior

2: the property inherent in some biological stocks (as of certain bacteria) of differentiating into two or more distinct and relatively permanent strains; also: such a strain

First Known Use of dissociation

Medical Dictionary

dissociation

Medical Definition of dissociation

1: the act or process of dissociating: the state of being dissociated: asa: the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler constituents; especially: one that results from the action of energy (as heat) on a gas or of a solvent on a dissolved substanceb: the separation of whole segments of the personality (as in multiple personality disorder) or of discrete mental processes (as in the schizophrenias) from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior with loss of integrated awareness and autonomous functioning of the separated segments or parts

2: the process by which some biological stocks (as of certain bacteria) differentiate into two or more distinct and relatively permanent strains; also: such a strain